Return of the £12 Charity Challenge

There was a fair amount of whining and complaining in the back of the car when I reminded the kids it was £12 Challenge Time again. I'd seriously considered not bothering this year, after losing Dad, but then came round to thinking it might actually help a little. Being busy is good at the moment. Keeps the dark clouds at bay.

So, just in case you're wondering, from Sunday I'll be feeding the four of us on a tiny £12 budget for 7 days. Now, unless you know about this, I'm sure you're probably wondering why?/is she some kind of crackers…Weeell, I do like a thrifty cooking challenge, and it's for charity - the rest of the weekly shop money (guesstimated) will go to Sport Relief.

Believe it not, this will be our third £12 Challenge, and last time, in a moment of possible hunger-induced madness, I rashly promised we'd go vegetarian for the next one. Not a problem in itself - I love vegetarian food, and figure I could come up with quite a good week of cheap, wholesome meals; but despite my best efforts, the kids just aren't that keen on their greens...or any pulses for that matter. So there'll be no lentil casserole or cauliflower cheese, or mushrooms, or couscous. I've got one who won't even eat potatoes. Talk about a challenge...

Still, I'm up for it, AND the accompanying chorus of whinging that's bound to get noisy as the week goes on. 

It does mean a lot more planning and a lot more time spent preparing meals and snacks; but focusing on food in this ultra-frugal way always reminds me how easy it is to take what we have, and what we expect to have, for granted. It also makes me think about what I usually buy. I'm the world's worst for getting stuff I don't need just because it's on offer. 

Anyway, I was wondering so I was, whether I could tempt anyone else to join me for a trolley detox this time? (though, having read over the above, can't say I've done the best job selling it…) And I don't mean jump straight in at the deep end, (unless you want to that is) - I was thinking more along the lines of cutting back on the weekly shop; sticking to a meal plan; using up stuff lurking in kitchen cupboards/the freezer, and donating what you save.

there'll be a lot of this going on….

I have a few self-imposed rules to up the ante - I try, on the whole, to use only what I buy with the twelve quid, bar a few cupboard/fridge essentials. I'll get some flour, because there'll be much bread and muffin making….but I'll use up ends of bags too. Same goes for sugar and leftover marg/spuds and onions. No point duplicating and being wasteful.

I'll post my £12 shop at the weekend, but if you'd like to see last year's, it's here and my meal plan is here.

Sunday will be the first day of the Challenge, and Saturday 22nd the last. I've been organised enough to set up a Sport Relief page (http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/12poundchallenge) - I'd thought about doing a team page, but chickened out, in case I ended up looking like a right Norma, in a sad old team of one…

So, what do you think? Do you fancy it? I'd love some company!

Dad

I haven't mentioned my lovely Dad much before; I haven't really wanted to. It just felt too personal. He had a big operation two years ago and sadly never properly recovered.

Dad battled so hard; he was so brave, but after Christmas began slipping down hill.

He lost his fight on the last day of February.

Dad rallied a little towards the end, which gave us all a chance to spend some time with him and say goodbye. Really special to have that. He knew we were there; he was calm and peaceful.

I felt I wanted to tell you, because it's such a major event in my life; because I couldn't keep something like this from my friends; because it wouldn't feel right to simply plough on with posts about making stuff from egg boxes without saying. That would be too weird.

But please don't feel you need to write back - I just want to be able to mention him from time to time, and for you to know why.

I read this at Dad's Funeral. I honestly can't remember reading it, but I'm so glad I did.

When I close my eyes, you’re holding my hand,

By the sea; smiling; sand between our toes,

I’m in your shadow looking up,

Safe, Secure, Loved.

When I close my eyes, you’re with my friends,

Laughing, joking, enjoying the attention,

Glass in your hand,

Funny, Wise, Generous,

You touched so many lives.

When I close my eyes you’re lost

and full of sadness,

swamped by waves of emotion

that ebb and flow forever.

When I close my eyes it’s your Wedding Day,

Happiness wraps round you,

Your soulmate by your side,

Love with no limits.

Adventures ahead you’d never have dreamt of,

A life full to the brim.

When I close my eyes you’re holding Sam,

a new shoot to the Tree,

Passionate and determined

like his Grandad.

You looked out for us all,

Guiding, advising,

Practical, sensible,

Unfailingly honest.

When I close my eyes you’re at peace,

Released from the pain.

You slipped away surrounded by love,

Nothing left unsaid.

Always in our hearts.

Competitive? Moi?

'Miss says we have to tell all you parents to keep your hands behind your backs!'

Like that's going to happen.

It's competition time again; the St David's Day Eisteddfod - a Festival of music, poetry, baking and model making, held in schools across Wales. Absolutely guaranteed to bring out a steely competitive edge in many a parent.

Even ones you least suspect.

Is that me? Probably. I'm really not inclined to be competitive about most stuff, but give me a craft challenge and I'm suddenly possessed by a Blue Peter-like zeal to produce something simply glorious. Just can't stop myself.

We all tend to do more than we should, don't we? Frankly I think anyone who insists they haven't helped their child with his or her cardboard creation is a big fibber. And I'm putting my hand up here, because I've taken 'helping' to the nth degree.

Now, you know how much I like making things out of rubbish - and at home I'll quite happily let the kids get on with creating whatever they fancy: no interfering…but when it's school bound, that's a game changer. As much as I'd like to be relaxed about it, I just can't let them take in any old tat.

So this happens.

I know.

It was my son's idea to make a model of the Statue of Liberty…and that's about all he did, bless him. Basically I got completely carried away. Out came the empty yogurt and marg pots and the tin foil, and then I thought, what about some papier mache? Honestly I had the best time.

Our model didn't even get placed.

It so obviously wasn't made by a 7 year old. I was far too embarrassed to say a thing.

Did I learn my lesson? Don't be mad. What I learnt was to tone it down a bit.

Fast forward to this year's competition, and my 9 year old had to make a Dragon. Attached to the letter about the Festival categories was a slip all parents had to sign, declaring no help had been given beyond a little guidance.

Oh dear.

New school, new rules. Suddenly it all seemed terribly official, which presented a bit of a dilemma, seeing as on the whole I'm quite law-abiding. It's different somehow when you actually have to sign something.

So, to get round feeling like a complete fraud and a cheat, who's bound to get caught and hauled before the Headmistress, I made another dragon alongside my son for him to copy - not saying there wasn't the odd helpful snip here and there, but, on the whole it was his own work.

I really needn't have worried, because on the way into school today I saw one mum carrying a beautiful clay dragon. I'm quite sure it had been glazed and fired. And my son told me his best friend's dragon had legs that moved and a CAVE.

Think I'm going to have to up my game again…

(By the way, if anyone's interested in instructions for an egg box dragon, just let me know!)

Egg box seals that ain't Arf! easy...

The Zoo hasn't made an appearance for a while, but it's on my mind; pinging around in there - more about that in a moment - first though, a new arrival!

Arf!

Sammy the seal, plus food..

It's all about the cut with Sammy - no glue needed - just an egg box, a good pair of scissors, paint and a black felt tip.

Cut out as much of a middle cone as you can, right down to the bottom. I've drawn a circle round the cone in this box so you can see what I mean.

Draw a line half way up one side, then use the cone edges to help you draw the flippers, like this.

Next, angle the line from the flippers gently downwards on the sides of the cone..

..don't make the angle too sharp - and bring the two lines together at the back to form the body and tail.

Cut out your seal. Now, because egg box cardboard is prone to ripping, make a little snip at the top of the flippers at the front - keep these cuts quite small so you don't lose a flipper - then carefully bend the them, and the tail.

Round off the pointy corners left on the flippers after snipping - just helps make your seal look better.

Next, paint and draw a face, like this one, drawn on an unpainted seal so it's nice and clear.

We made a few fish from bits of leftover egg box card too,

and then the seals commandeered the penguins' pool ….

Maybe you remember a few weeks ago I showed you an upside-down shoe box? Well, this is what's inside.

The plan is to use my box of animals to promote Roll up to the Zoo as a possible book idea. Thankfully a friend is helping with the promo stuff, because I'm rubbish at that.

It might all come to nothing, but as my 6 year old says (as she enthusiastically enters yet another Milkshake! drawing competition), you've got to be in it to win it.

'Swings and roundabouts, Mummy!'

So weird hearing your own words coming back at you.

*Update Oct/2018* And it was worth it!

Plenty of projects to try in my craft books, 'Make Your Own Zoo' and 'Make Your Own Farm Animals'

Easy egg box roses

This is a little Valentine's or Mother's day gift that won't fade away - really simple to make too.

All you'll need for half a dozen roses is: an egg box, some pipe cleaners, red tissue paper, a yogurt pot, small piece of wrapping paper, PVA/craft glue, scissors and a ball of plasticine (modelling clay).

First, cut the six cups out of the egg box - they don't have to be straight and even, in fact a wavy edge is best as it's more petal-like.

Paint them...and possibly your hands, red.

Once they're dry, cut pipe cleaners into 10cm/4" pieces(green is great, but any colour will do) - then make a hole, push the pipe cleaner through and fold the top part over.
(Keep as flat as you can as this makes it easier to glue in the flower middle)

Cut a sheet of red tissue paper into three (about 20cm/8" by 12cm/5") and then start folding, so you end up with a strip roughly 2cm/0.75" wide.

Once you've done that, roll it up tight.

Let the tissue paper centre naturally unfurl so it fits neatly in an egg cup, and glue in place.

Optional: Fold some green tissue paper a few times, draw a leaf shape on top, cut out and glue to the stems.

Stick some paper or a ribbon onto your pot (or both!) to cover the writing.

If you're using paper, cut a strip to go round the pot plus a bit extra, then snip the strip into smaller pieces - this makes it much easier to glue evenly.

Best to leave the plasticine (modelling clay) somewhere warmish so it's not hard as rock when you try to push the stems in.

The added bonus is this gives the pot some weight, so you should end up with quite a sturdy little posy…

egg box roses

The Gallery - Something beautiful

...yes, I know, another sunrise - a few years of blogging and I'm getting pretty predictable! Give me a photo prompt like 'something beautiful' and I can't help thinking Sky. Again.

Thing is, if I see one like this I just want to try to catch it. To catch that beautiful, magical, fleeting moment. Always lifts my spirits, unless I've forgotten to bring the blinking camera.

It is another school run photo; another, 'Hurry up mum, we're going to be LATE!' photo. Definitely one of the benefits of being up and on the road so early, though not sure the kids would agree…

Many more beautiful things over at The Gallery

Keeping notes

The 6 year old is going through a bit of a note writing stage. Always furtively scribbling away - and no one's allowed to look - then little letters and cards just appear, by our bed, on the table, or in my knitting bag - all kinds of places.

They are terribly sweet and funny….and numerous. I've kept the best ones, but I'm afraid the rest have been 'filed away'. I've learnt to be careful though, after all hell broke loose when she found a few I'd filed in the recycling pile…

This one's a keeper.